Mainland QB Cameron Hadley proves he can play with the big boys

Mainland defensive end Quinton Powell, left, recorded 102 tackles while leading the area in tackles for loss (37) and sacks (12). Mainland's Cameron Hadley, right, had 2,364 yards of offense — 1,445 passing, 772 rushing, 147 receiving — and 26 touchdowns while leading Mainland to the Class 6A regional finals.

Published: Sunday, December 30, 2012 at 5:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Saturday, December 29, 2012 at 11:54 p.m.

DAYTONA BEACH — Cameron Hadley is not the biggest or most outspoken guy, but in the hallways of Mainland High School he has a little bit of a superhero-type aura going on.

“There was a time there that all I heard in school was that (Hadley) was our offense,” Mainland Under Armour All-America linebacker Quinton Powell said.

There were other Bucs that played big roles on offense in 2012, but with the team struggling to get much going on that side the ball, Hadley — all 5-foot-6, 165 pounds of him — came to the rescue. He took over at quarterback at the midway point of the season and accounted for 2,364 yards — 1,445 passing, 772 rushing, 147 receiving — and 26 touchdowns while leading Mainland to the Class 6A regional finals. In the process, he earned the News-Journal Offensive Player of the Year award.

It was an impressive finish to a stellar four-year varsity career in which he racked up 9,208 yards — 5,487 passing, 3,252 rushing, 469 receiving — and 108 touchdowns. For Hadley, who played two seasons at Calvary Christian before transferring into Mainland, the award serves as a sort of vindication of his abilities.

“Coming from a small school like Calvary, I was putting up numbers, and I always wondered ‘Why am I not getting this award if I'm putting up numbers?'” he said. “I just knew I had to do the same thing over here and make people know that just because I'm not at a little school doesn't mean I still can't put up the numbers and earn (offensive player of the year) the hard way.”

Leading a second-half offensive resurgence for the Bucs in Class 6A might be the hard way, but at times Hadley made things look easy. He said he would joke with the coaches before each game that he was going to keep his jersey clean.

“I would always tell them that I was going to make everybody miss,” Hadley said.

And while the jersey almost always got a few grass stains ground on it, Hadley made his name by making defenders look foolish. It was a trait perhaps appreciated the most by Powell.

“He has amazing ability,” he said. “You don't see a lot of athletes breaking people off with one move every time. A lot of teams would study our film, they would see him and they still couldn't stop him.

“It was just that one step back or to the side. He has such quick feet and he sets them up so decent.”

While Powell might have been amazed, Bucs senior defensive tackle Jontey Byrd said he grew up playing alongside Hadley and that the diminutive athlete has always been special.

“He has been that way his whole life,” Byrd said. “We have been playing together since we were 6, 7 … and he has always been amazing. He was always the kid doing something nobody else could or would do. He has always been a winner.”

But two years ago, Hadley said he was fueled by doubt. He was productive at Calvary Christian. He played against the best athletes in Daytona growing up, but there were whispers that he could not produce at a higher level, on a bigger stage.

“I wanted to prove I could do it,” Hadley said. “People I knew my whole life were like, ‘We know you can do it at a bigger school. You don't have to prove anything to anybody.' I was like, ‘No, it is something that I want to do for myself.' ”

So Hadley transferred to Mainland intent on proving himself. He was good a season ago — catching 21 passes — but this year he was great.

And he was at his best in the postseason. In the playoff opener, Hadley accounted for 454 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Bucs to a come-from-behind, 49-42, win over Lakeland Lake Gibson. The next week against Winter Haven, he went off for 445 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-33 win.

“He was amazing for us,” Byrd said. “He gave his all every game. He left nothing on the field. He didn't even want to play quarterback, but he did that for the team. It took a lot for him to be able to do what he did.”

Mainland head coach Scott Wilson said that the recruiters he hears from all rave about Hadley's film. Wilson said West Virginia defensive coordinator Joe DeForest compared Hadley to Mountaineers receiver Tavon Austin, who had 110 receptions for 1,259 yards and 12 touchdowns this year.

Wilson said the University of Massachusetts loves Hadley, Weber State has him as the top guy on their recruiting board, and schools such as West Virginia and Louisville are keeping an eye on him. But Hadley still does not have an offer.

Hadley said there are schools — such as Weber State — that are waiting on him to meet college eligibility requirements. Then there are other schools that question his size and his speed — he said his fastest 40 time was 4.6.

“People question my game,” he said. “Do I have the speed? Am I too little? I know it will come though because coach Wilson stresses to me not to worry about it. It will come.”

He said he thinks he could be a slotback or running back and a punt returner at the next level.

“Positions that get me in the open field, one-on-one,” Hadley said. “I feel I can play with the best of them. If it is me against you, my mentality is, I'm going to beat you every time.

“I think the future holds a lot for me. I don't think this is over. Teams come at me all the time. I feel like if I go to college, I can play and look toward the NFL. If the NFL doesn't work out, I can just get my degree and have a great job coming out.”

<p><b> DAYTONA BEACH </b> — Cameron Hadley is not the biggest or most outspoken guy, but in the hallways of Mainland High School he has a little bit of a superhero-type aura going on. <ep></p><p>“There was a time there that all I heard in school was that (Hadley) was our offense,” Mainland Under Armour All-America linebacker Quinton Powell said. <ep></p><p>There were other Bucs that played big roles on offense in 2012, but with the team struggling to get much going on that side the ball, Hadley — all 5-foot-6, 165 pounds of him — came to the rescue. He took over at quarterback at the midway point of the season and accounted for 2,364 yards — 1,445 passing, 772 rushing, 147 receiving — and 26 touchdowns while leading Mainland to the Class 6A regional finals. In the process, he earned the News-Journal Offensive Player of the Year award. <ep></p><p>It was an impressive finish to a stellar four-year varsity career in which he racked up 9,208 yards — 5,487 passing, 3,252 rushing, 469 receiving — and 108 touchdowns. For Hadley, who played two seasons at Calvary Christian before transferring into Mainland, the award serves as a sort of vindication of his abilities. <ep></p><p>“Coming from a small school like Calvary, I was putting up numbers, and I always wondered 'Why am I not getting this award if I'm putting up numbers?'” he said. “I just knew I had to do the same thing over here and make people know that just because I'm not at a little school doesn't mean I still can't put up the numbers and earn (offensive player of the year) the hard way.” <ep></p><p>Leading a second-half offensive resurgence for the Bucs in Class 6A might be the hard way, but at times Hadley made things look easy. He said he would joke with the coaches before each game that he was going to keep his jersey clean. <ep></p><p>“I would always tell them that I was going to make everybody miss,” Hadley said. <ep></p><p>And while the jersey almost always got a few grass stains ground on it, Hadley made his name by making defenders look foolish. It was a trait perhaps appreciated the most by Powell. <ep></p><p> “He has amazing ability,” he said. “You don't see a lot of athletes breaking people off with one move every time. A lot of teams would study our film, they would see him and they still couldn't stop him. <ep></p><p>“It was just that one step back or to the side. He has such quick feet and he sets them up so decent.” <ep></p><p>While Powell might have been amazed, Bucs senior defensive tackle Jontey Byrd said he grew up playing alongside Hadley and that the diminutive athlete has always been special. <ep></p><p> “He has been that way his whole life,” Byrd said. “We have been playing together since we were 6, 7 … and he has always been amazing. He was always the kid doing something nobody else could or would do. He has always been a winner.” <ep></p><p>But two years ago, Hadley said he was fueled by doubt. He was productive at Calvary Christian. He played against the best athletes in Daytona growing up, but there were whispers that he could not produce at a higher level, on a bigger stage. <ep></p><p>“I wanted to prove I could do it,” Hadley said. “People I knew my whole life were like, 'We know you can do it at a bigger school. You don't have to prove anything to anybody.' I was like, 'No, it is something that I want to do for myself.' ” <ep></p><p>So Hadley transferred to Mainland intent on proving himself. He was good a season ago — catching 21 passes — but this year he was great. <ep></p><p>“He was our playmaker,” Bucs senior offensive tackle Wayne Scott said. “He always made the first man miss.” <ep> </p><p>And he was at his best in the postseason. In the playoff opener, Hadley accounted for 454 yards and six touchdowns to lead the Bucs to a come-from-behind, 49-42, win over Lakeland Lake Gibson. The next week against Winter Haven, he went off for 445 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-33 win. <ep></p><p>“He was amazing for us,” Byrd said. “He gave his all every game. He left nothing on the field. He didn't even want to play quarterback, but he did that for the team. It took a lot for him to be able to do what he did.” <ep></p><p>Mainland head coach Scott Wilson said that the recruiters he hears from all rave about Hadley's film. Wilson said West Virginia defensive coordinator Joe DeForest compared Hadley to Mountaineers receiver Tavon Austin, who had 110 receptions for 1,259 yards and 12 touchdowns this year. <ep></p><p>Wilson said the University of Massachusetts loves Hadley, Weber State has him as the top guy on their recruiting board, and schools such as West Virginia and Louisville are keeping an eye on him. But Hadley still does not have an offer. <ep></p><p>Hadley said there are schools — such as Weber State — that are waiting on him to meet college eligibility requirements. Then there are other schools that question his size and his speed — he said his fastest 40 time was 4.6. <ep></p><p>“People question my game,” he said. “Do I have the speed? Am I too little? I know it will come though because coach Wilson stresses to me not to worry about it. It will come.” <ep> </p><p>He said he thinks he could be a slotback or running back and a punt returner at the next level. <ep></p><p>“Positions that get me in the open field, one-on-one,” Hadley said. “I feel I can play with the best of them. If it is me against you, my mentality is, I'm going to beat you every time. <ep> </p><p>“I think the future holds a lot for me. I don't think this is over. Teams come at me all the time. I feel like if I go to college, I can play and look toward the NFL. If the NFL doesn't work out, I can just get my degree and have a great job coming out.” <ep></p>